CAROL LINK: Can blueberry bushes be grouped with azaleas? Answer is yes

By Carol LinkSpecial to The Times

Published: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 11:45 a.m.

Q: My yard is small and does not have a space for planting blueberry bushes by themselves. Is it OK to group them with azaleas?

A: Yes, azaleas and blueberries may be planted in the same bed. Both plants have similar requirements; a site containing rich textured, slightly acidic, well-drained soil that receives plenty of sun and ample amounts of water to encourage fruiting and flowering.

Q: Our home is new, and our yard is bare. A friend offered to give me several sweet gum trees. She says they are nice trees, but my husband says the trees drop sticky balls and he doesn’t want to always be cleaning up the mess. Do you recommend planting sweet gum trees in a yard?

A: A young sweet gum tree is beautifully shaped, but as the tree ages, the shape become less uniform, and yes, the sticky balls are a mess. I recommend that you listen to your husband, especially if he is the one caring for the yard.

Q: What is the difference in annuals and perennials? This year, I filled a planting bed with marigolds. The label said they are annuals, which I thought meant they would come back annually. I paid a lot for the plants and sure hope they will come back next year. Will they?

A: Annuals grow for one year and die. Hardy perennials return year after year. I’m sorry, your marigolds will not return next year.

Q: My mother grew “Hens and Chicks” in a pot on the front porch. I can’t remember what she did with them during the winter. Do they need to be brought inside for the winter, or will they be OK outside?

A: I grow Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chickens) in a container in my front yard. For the past few years, I have left the pot outside all winter, and the plant has survived but has not thrived. Because Hens and Chicks do not tolerate wet soil very well, I suggest that for the winter, the container be situated in a sunny place that provides protection from excessive cold and rainfall.

Q: You seem to recommend pruning crape myrtles every year? I have two large crape myrtles that have never been pruned and they are beautiful.

A: I’m sorry if I have given the impression that all crape myrtles should be pruned every year. Generally, unless damaged, the majority of older, larger, established, well-shaped crape myrtles require no pruning whatsoever. With younger and smaller crape myrtles, new suckers growing from the tree’s base should be removed for a neat appearance and to prevent additional trunks from forming.

While a young tree is being shaped, any new limbs that rub against or cross over another limb should be removed.

In some instances, a gardener plants a crape myrtle in a specific spot where the tree is required to stay small to fit the available space. These are the trees that are pruned yearly to remove the older, taller growth.

Also, in the fall, on smaller trees, seed pods may be removed to encourage a final round of flowers. On larger trees, removing all the seed pods becomes impossible.

Carol (Bonnie) Link is an Etowah County Master Gardener and an experienced garden writer. Her weekly column is designed to help and encourage others in their gardening endeavors. Send questions or comments to clink43@bellsouth.net.

<p>Q: My yard is small and does not have a space for planting blueberry bushes by themselves. Is it OK to group them with azaleas?</p><p>A: Yes, azaleas and blueberries may be planted in the same bed. Both plants have similar requirements; a site containing rich textured, slightly acidic, well-drained soil that receives plenty of sun and ample amounts of water to encourage fruiting and flowering.</p><p>Q: Our home is new, and our yard is bare. A friend offered to give me several sweet gum trees. She says they are nice trees, but my husband says the trees drop sticky balls and he doesn't want to always be cleaning up the mess. Do you recommend planting sweet gum trees in a yard?</p><p>A: A young sweet gum tree is beautifully shaped, but as the tree ages, the shape become less uniform, and yes, the sticky balls are a mess. I recommend that you listen to your husband, especially if he is the one caring for the yard.</p><p>Q: What is the difference in annuals and perennials? This year, I filled a planting bed with marigolds. The label said they are annuals, which I thought meant they would come back annually. I paid a lot for the plants and sure hope they will come back next year. Will they? </p><p>A: Annuals grow for one year and die. Hardy perennials return year after year. I'm sorry, your marigolds will not return next year.</p><p>Q: My mother grew “Hens and Chicks” in a pot on the front porch. I can't remember what she did with them during the winter. Do they need to be brought inside for the winter, or will they be OK outside?</p><p>A: I grow Sempervivum tectorum (Hens and Chickens) in a container in my front yard. For the past few years, I have left the pot outside all winter, and the plant has survived but has not thrived. Because Hens and Chicks do not tolerate wet soil very well, I suggest that for the winter, the container be situated in a sunny place that provides protection from excessive cold and rainfall.</p><p>Q: You seem to recommend pruning crape myrtles every year? I have two large crape myrtles that have never been pruned and they are beautiful.</p><p>A: I'm sorry if I have given the impression that all crape myrtles should be pruned every year. Generally, unless damaged, the majority of older, larger, established, well-shaped crape myrtles require no pruning whatsoever. With younger and smaller crape myrtles, new suckers growing from the tree's base should be removed for a neat appearance and to prevent additional trunks from forming.</p><p>While a young tree is being shaped, any new limbs that rub against or cross over another limb should be removed.</p><p>In some instances, a gardener plants a crape myrtle in a specific spot where the tree is required to stay small to fit the available space. These are the trees that are pruned yearly to remove the older, taller growth.</p><p>Also, in the fall, on smaller trees, seed pods may be removed to encourage a final round of flowers. On larger trees, removing all the seed pods becomes impossible.</p>
<p class="italic font120">Carol (Bonnie) Link is an Etowah County Master Gardener and an experienced garden writer. Her weekly column is designed to help and encourage others in their gardening endeavors. Send questions or comments to clink43@bellsouth.net.</p>